William Wright and Micah Weathers continued to lead the Winder-Barrow High School cross country program during the trip to Douglasville Saturday for the Asics Invitational.
Running on a flat course for one of the few times this fall, almost all WBHS runners set personal or season best times.
“It was a really good day,” said coach Michael Lofton. “It is an incredible venue and made for a very fast race.”
Wright had a personal best time of 16:27 as did Nelson Lofton at 16:57. Tony Rowden turned in a 17:07 race followed by Dakota Kay, who had his best effort of the season in 17:25.
Harrison Daniel (17:27), Gustavo Garcia (17:29) and Timmy Villameter (17:34) also had strong performances.
The WBHS boys competed in the championship race. The top junior varsity boys ran in the varsity competition with the remaining runners in the JV competition.
Will Purcell, Brandon Banks, Taylor Smith, Coby Smith and Matthew Hackett led WBHS in the varsity race.
In the JV boys race, Austin Hubbard was third overall.
Weathers was fourth overall in the championship girls division in 18:12.
That time makes her the fastest female runner in Class AAAAA.
“She is just tearing it up,” Lofton said. “Every time I set a goal for her, she meets it.”
Weathers was the first freshman runner to cross the finish line Saturday.
“People across the state are talking about Micah Weathers,” Lofton said.
A fellow freshman runner from Lakeside, Evans defeated Weathers at the recent Aubrae Gunderson Invitational, but the WBHS standout returned the favor Saturday in Douglasville.
Amber Palmero also had a personal record Saturday in 19:29.
Her time Saturday will help her gain more collegiate opportunities, her coach said.
“As long as she can run in the 19:00 range and do well at region, she will have opportunities to run in college,” Lofton said.
Macy Hays was third for the Lady Bulldoggs in 21:05. Isabel Martin, a junior, had a season best time of 21:34.
Sarah Carpenter also set a personal record in 21:57 as the freshman continued her standout season.
Kiana Perez (22:50) and Amber Duffy (23:46) both had strong outings despite recovering from injury. Duffy’s time was a season best.
Sammy Sweet had a personal best time of 24:07 Saturday while Haley Mewborn, also coming off an injury, had a season best time and continues to work to improve her time.
“The state course will be much different,” Lofton said. “The course Saturday lended itself to faster times. It was still a boost to the kids to see they can run fast. We compete on tough courses and that’s what I hope will help us when we get to state.”
WBHS runners will compete at the Coach Wood Invitational Saturday in Gainesville.
